Vera Harrison agonizes over how something as mundane as throwing out the trash at her own home devolved so quickly into a random and vicious stabbing that left her needing dozens of stitches early Wednesday in West Ridge.
“I felt like I made myself an opportunity by going downstairs at 1:30 in the morning in a dark secluded area,” Harrison, 65, told the Chicago Sun-Times. “It just blows my mind how a person just randomly passing by has the mentality to do something so violent, so spur-of-the-moment.”
Harrison was taking out her garbage early Wednesday behind her home in the 6200 block of North Fairfield Avenue when the attacker ran at her and yelled expletives while her back was turned.
“He put his arm around my neck and picked me up, and then it seemed like he was trying to take me into my backyard, and I put my foot up on the door frame and pushed back because I didn’t want him to get me in that area,” Harrison said.
The two fell to the ground, and after getting back up, the man began attacking Harrison with a “box cutter-like” object before fleeing.
“I felt just burning on my face, and then I put my arm up and he slashed that pretty bad on my outer forearm,” Harrison said.
“It was so quick,” Harrison added. “I was just blown away by that aspect of it.”
Harrison then went to the emergency room of St. Francis Hospital in Evanston where she received at least 30 stitches between the side of her face and back of her left forearm.
While she’s now doing OK, Harrison admitted the attack left her scared, and she doesn’t want to be outside at night anymore.
“It just reinforces that there’s violence out there, and the devil’s so busy,” Harrison said. “I feel like everyone is at a heightened level of awareness because of everything going on [in the city.]”
Ald. Debra Silverstein (50th) said she was in contact with authorities and urged residents to be cautious of their surroundings.
“We always have to be careful while we’re out and about, especially that late at night,” Silverstein said. “If you feel uncomfortable, or something’s concerning you, or you feel concerned for your life, always call 911.
“We live in a wonderful and very diverse neighborhood where, for the most part, we all get along and respect one another,” Silverstein added. “I will do everything in my power to make sure that this community stays as safe as possible.”
No one was in custody as of Tuesday morning.
Harrison says she’s “thankful and fortunate” she wasn’t more severely hurt in the attack and urged others to take caution and be aware of their surroundings.
“Don’t be stupid like me and go out at 1:30 in the morning [to take out the garbage],” Harrison said. “Don’t make yourself an opportunity.”